Ergonomic support for keyboard and computer mouse platform

ABSTRACT

An ergonomic keyboard support device for a computer keyboard having a substantially planar key upper plane, comprising a keyboard support having an operator-proximal keyboard support edge and a substantially planar keyboard support top surface; a support bar for maintaining wrist and forearm support during keyboard operations; and a computer mouse platform for holding a computer mouse and for writing by a keyboard operator and for maintaining wrist support during mouse operations. The support bar, which is connected to the top surface of the keyboard support across the operator-proximal keyboard support edge, has a substantially planar bar top surface. The mouse platform is movably positioned upon the planar top surface of the keyboard support and has a substantially planar top surface that is substantially in the same plane as the planar bar top surface. A wedge under the support platform upon a carriage plate connected to articulated linkage tilts the keyboard support at approximately 8° relative to the horizontal so that in turn the keyboard frame is tilted to an angle wherein the upper plane defined by the keyboard keys is horizontal along with the top planes of the support bar and the mouse platform. The articulated linkage can tilt the device to a plurality of angles and positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of supports for keyboardsfor personal computers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of desktop computers has grown dramatically since theintroduction of the personal computer in 1981. An estimated 75% of allworkers are sedentary, and many of those use personal computers as apart of their jobs. In addition, schools, colleges, libraries and otherinstitutions have invested heavily in electronics to keep theircommunities current with the latest technologies and informationsources.

Unfortunately, many of these computers are situated on furniture thatwas not designed either to support the computer hardware or to promote ahealthy interface between the machines and the operators.

The standard height of worksurfaces on desks is 29 to 30 inches. Themost common configuration of a desk for office work is a unit at thatheight, having two 15 inch inch wide pedestals for 11 inch paper filing,and a 28 inch wide knee space that includes a center drawer for storingsmall office supplies. The typical stand-alone desktop computer requiresspace for a monitor, a central processing unit, keyboard, a computermouse or trackball, a printer and a side assortment of add-onperipherals and accessories. All of this hardware robs the individualworker of space so important for effectively and comfortably performingnormal workplace tasks. More important, the input devices--the keyboardand computer mouse being the most popular--are too frequently placed ontop of the 29-30 inch high work surface. This placement forces anoperator's arms, hands, shoulders, and back into postures that areunnatural and frequently uncomfortable. If these postures are repeatedover several hours each day for a period of months or years, an operatormay experience symptoms ranging from mild discomfort through chronicpain to disabling injury.

The human and economic costs of unhealthy postures and repetitive straininjuries have been widely documented in corporate, scientific, andgovernmental literature. The Federal government, acting through theOccupational Safety and Health Administration is preparing ErgonomicProtection Standard that would apply to computer use in the workplace.It would set performance-oriented guidelines. At the earliest date, theywould go into effect in 1996. Absent a Federal guideline, manyorganizations have begun concerted efforts to make their officeenvironments more ergonomically sound.

Office furniture and office product manufacturers have offered a widevariety of products that are marketed as ergonomic. Many of these itemsfail to meet any of the criteria for ergonomic soundness, and some evenworsen the situation by encouraging operators to assume unhealthypostures. Some contract furniture manufacturers offer adjustable-heighttables and desks, and adjustable keyboard and computer mouse supports.Unfortunately, the price of most of these items puts them out of reachfor millions of workers. All too often, the primary factor determiningwhether or not to buy a computer accessory or computer furniture is thepurchase price. A buyer's perception of achieving greater comfort, assuggested by the marketing efforts of the manufacturer or distributor,often leads to the purchase of items that turn out to have little or nopositive effect.

One basic requirement for supporting healthy body postures for operatorsusing a keyboard and a computer mouse is that the keyboard support thatholds these devices includes swiveling, tilting, and height adjustmentmechanisms. A height adjustment places the keyboard support between 22inches and 27 inches above floor level in order to promote an upperextremities neutral posture for 95% of the U.S. population. The negativeside of the keyboard support tilt compensates for the positive tiltbuilt into keyboards. A negative tilt of 23° allows most standingoperators to input with wrist neutrality when the computer is placed ondesk height (29-30 inch) furniture. Tilting mechanisms also provide anoption of a small positive tilt to allow operators who prefer thatinclination to continue keying in a manner that is both comfortable andefficient for their keying habits. It also allows users of notebookcomputers to position their bodies comfortably while maintaining wristneutrality. Swiveling mechanisms allow operators to position theirbodies, keyboards, and computer mouses in alignment with monitors thatare located in a corner of the work station.

Since computers are often used by various people throughout the day, itis essential that the platform support a rapid, easy transition forleft- or right-hand mouse (or trackball) users. Also, there should be anarea large enough to support a person's hand and forearm. This area isused for resting between mouse operations to preclude resting one's armweight on the mouse and prevent the resultant static clenching postureof one's hand gripping the mouse.

Some prior art combinations of a support for a keyboard and a computermouse and a storage area for small office supplies are discussed below.

The Snapease line by Rubbermaid allows the computer mouse to be placedto the left or the right of the keyboard, and space is provided forsupplies. The keyboard supports are either 42-46 inches wide and aredesigned for use only with a Rubbermaid desk. The keyboard and computermouse support does not tilt or adjust for height with the negativeresult that it does not promote healthy neutral postures for operatorsof various sizes.

The Aurora keyboard support system by Ergonomic Environments offers amodel that provides keyboard and computer mouse support within a 27.5inch overall width. The unit is tilt and height adjustable. But itprovides no storage for supplies. Moreover, it does not promote healthymousing postures, because the computer mouse support is not deep enoughto act as a forearm rest between mousing episodes.

The Flex Rest manufactures a keyboard drawer that is tilt and heightadjustable which includes a pivoting computer mouse tray and penciltray. The unit tilts only negatively, thereby failing to accommodate theneeds of users who prefer a positive slope. The computer mouse tray istoo shallow for forearm support. The storage area is minimal. The unitis too wide to fit in the 28 inch knee space of a conventional 60 inchby 30 inch desk.

Rubbermaid also manufacturers computer mouse platforms, that attach toseveral of its under-desk keyboard drawers, as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 330,892. The drawers have small hinged compartments for pencils,clips, and so on. The drawers are not height and tilt adjustable, andthe computer mouse platform is very shallow.

Global Computer Supplies offers two related items. The first is akeyboard support that starts at desk height which can be lowered inthree increments to 3.75 inches below the work surface. It has a smallstorage area for supplies and an optional computer mouse tray thatattaches left or right. The unit has no tilt adjustment, and the 3.75inch computer mouse adjustment below the top of the work surface is notsufficient to promote wrist neutrality for 95% of seated operators. Thesecond item tilts plus/minus 15° and adjusts from 2.75 inches to 5inches below the worksurface. The 2.25 inch height adjustment range doesnot allow neutral postures for many operators. Also, because the unit ismounted on ball bearing slides rather than to an articulating arm, it iscumbersome to adjust the height once the unit is installed.

Manufacturers such as Details, Knoll, Haworth, Herman Miller, Proformix,and Ergo Systems offer several keyboard supports. Both Details andProformix have additional computer mouse supports that can swivel andtilt. But none provide supply storage that allows the operator todiscard the desk center drawer and retain adequate under-desk storagevolume.

Prior art also reveals attempts to solve one or more ergonomic issuesassociated with wrist supports for keyboard operators. Some such patentsare as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,250 discloses a forearm resting member that issubstantially coplanar with the top surface of the keyboard apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,296 discloses an edge portion elevated to a levelsubstantially above the immediately adjacent keys to maintain properwrist angle during keyboard use. The elevated region of the edge portionis parallel to the planar surface of the keyboard housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,655 discloses a wrist rest on which both wrists aresupported that is higher than the top of the keyboard. One purpose ofthe wrist support is to maintain an angle between the wrist and the handwhile typing that minimizes strain on the wrist thereby preventingrepetitive motion strain syndrome.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,614

U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,090

U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,321

U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,136

U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,296

Prior art patents also reveal apparatuses for adjusting supports forcomputer keyboards. Some such patents are as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,798

U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,390

U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,054

U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,767

U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,897

U.S. Pat. No. 306,239

The present art of computer keyboards includes a typical keyboard havinga planar keyboard bottom surface and parallel operator-proximate andoperator-distal keyboard edges. The keyboard typically includes fiverows of keys respectively located proximate to distal from the operatorall of which are spaced at the same distance from the keyboard bottomsurface 14 further includes a distal rear key row aligned in parallelwith the other four key rows having keys spaced from keyboard bottomsurface at a very slightly greater distance than are the keys of theother key rows. Each key has a horizontal top surface that includes anoperator-proximal top edge and a parallel operator-distal top edge. Thetypical keyboard forms a substantially planar keyboard top areaparticularly defined by the operator proximal top edges of all the keys.The planar keyboard top surface is spaced at a greater distance from thekeyboard bottom surface at the operator-distal keyboard top area than atthe operator-proximal top area, so that the keyboard top surface and thekeyboard bottom surface define therebetween an angle typically ofapproximately 8° that would be imaginatively formed at a pair ofintersecting planes located more operator proximate than the operatorproximate keyboard edge. The top individual surfaces of each key definehorizontal surfaces in a single plane in each succeeding row of keyswith each succeeding row of keys forming a horizontal plane steppedhigher than the horizontal plane defined by the previous row of keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic supportfor positioning a keyboard and a computer mouse and writing platformthat overcomes the aforementioned problems related to computer operatorcomfort relating to support position and arm and wrist comfort duringkeying operations using conventional office furniture;

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensivesingle ergonomic unit that includes a keyboard support and a combinationcomputer mouse and writing platform that is removable positioned on thekeyboard support and a storage drawer that is affixed to the keyboardsupport;

It is another object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport that interaligns with a keyboard, a computer mouse and writingplatform and a wrist rest wherein the the top side of the keyboard, thetop wall of the computer mouse and writing platform, and the top wall ofthe wrist rest are aligned in the same plane;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport having a wrist rest and a computer mouse platform on thekeyboard support, the keyboard support including angle adjustment meansthat is mounted upon a carriage plate that aligns the keyboard, thewrist rest, and the computer mouse platform on the keyboard support atthe same level horizontal level when the carriage plate is at a normaloperating position and further aligns the same on the same level whenthe articulating mechanism tilts the keyboard support at positive ornegative modes;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport with angle adjustment means connected to the carriage plate ofarticulating means that aligns the keyboard at a horizontal alignment inthe normal operating mode and that further provides a computer mouse andwriting platform having an angled bottom wall that aligns the computermouse writing platform at the same plane as the keyboard;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport with angle adjustment means connected to the carriage plate ofarticulating means that aligns the keyboard at a horizontal plane in thenormal operating mode and that further provides a wrist rest having atop wall aligned in the same horizontal plane as the keyboard and alsoincludes a computer mouse and writing platform having an bottom wallplaced upon the keyboard support top wall that aligns the computer mouseand writing platform in the same plane as the top side of the keyboard;

It is further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport and computer mouse platform positioned on the keyboard supportand further including a wrist bar that is aligned with the keyboard;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport with a wrist support that ergonomically aligns the wrist supportwith the keyboard and that further provides space for a computer mouseplatform that is ergonomically aligned with the keyboard and the wristsupport, and provides depth sufficient for a person to rest one's handand forearm; and

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboardsupport with a wrist support that ergonomically aligns the wrist supportwith the keyboard. and that provides space for a computer mouse platformthat is ergonomically aligned with the keyboard and the wrist supportand further includes mechanism for tilting, swiveling, and verticaladjusting.

The present invention contemplates an ergonomic keyboard support devicefor a computer keyboard having a substantially planar key upper plane,comprising a keyboard support having an operator-proximal keyboardsupport edge and a substantially planar keyboard support top surface; asupport bar for maintaining wrist and forearm support during keyboardoperations; and a computer mouse platform for holding a computer mouseand for writing by a keyboard operator and for maintaining wrist supportduring mouse operations. The support bar, which is connected to the topsurface of the keyboard support across the operator-proximal keyboardsupport edge, has a substantially planar bar top surface. The mouseplatform is movably positioned upon the planar top surface of thekeyboard support and has a substantially planar top surface that issubstantially in the same plane as the planar bar top surface. A wedgeunder the support platform upon a carriage plate connected toarticulated linkage tilts the keyboard support at approximately 8°relative to the horizontal so that in turn the keyboard frame is tiltedto an angle wherein the upper plane defined by the keyboard keys ishorizontal along with the top planes of the support bar and the mouseplatform. The articulated linkage can tilt the device to a plurality ofangles and positions.

The present invention can be better understood and the objects andimportant features, other than those specifically set forth above, willbecome apparent when consideration is given to the following details anddescription, which when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,describes, discloses, illustrates, and shows preferred embodiments ormodification of the present invention and what is presently consideredand believed to be the best mode of practice in the principles thereof.

A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention that illustrates akeyboard support with a keyboard positioned thereon shown in phantomline and a computer mouse platform positioned on the keyboard supportand a computer mouse placed upon the computer mouse platform and furthershowing a monitor support with a monitor and a computer unit placedthereon in operational relationship to the keyboard.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention taken through plane 2--2 in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a an elevational side view taken through line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational side view taken through line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken through line 4A--4A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through line 4--4 of FIG. 2 wherein thecowel upper planar top surface is substantially the same as the keyupper plane of the computer keyboard;

FIG. 5A is a sectional view analogous to the sectional view of FIG. 5with the cowel planar top surface being slightly higher than the keyupper plane of the computer keyboard;

FIG. 6 is an elevational front view through line 5--5 of FIG. 2including the FILL IN shown in sectional view.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of taken through line 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the keyboard support and the monitorsupport including an articulating mechanism that shows the keyboardsupport in a normal horizontal operating mode; and further indicates thekeyboard support in phantom line at positive and negative tilted modesof +15° and -23°; and in phantom line at a lowered mode; and in phantomline at a lowered forward storage mode; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of the keyboard support and the monitorsupport including a schematic articulating mechanism that shows thekeyboard support in a normal operating mode parallel with and directlyfacing the monitor support; in phantom line positioned parallel with andangled relative to the monitor support; and in phantom line positionedgenerally parallel with and slid to one side relative to the monitorsupport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made in detail to the drawings wherein the samenumerals refer to the same or similar elements throughout.

An ergonomic keyboard support device 10 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in conjunction with a typicalcomputer keyboard 12, a personal computer 14, and a monitor 16 and isshown in isolation in FIGS. 2-7.

Computer keyboard 12, which is shown in phantom line, includes a planarkeyboard frame bottom surface 18 and parallel operator-proximate andoperator-distal keyboard frame edges 20 and 22, respectively, andparallel side edges 24 and 26.

Computer keyboard 12 typically includes five rows of keys 28 includingthe spacebar in key rows 30A (including the spacebar), 30B, 30C and 30D,located proximate to distal from the operator, respectively, all ofwhich are spaced at the same distance from keyboard frame bottom surface18, and a distal rear key row 30E aligned in parallel with key rows30A-30D having keys 28 spaced from keyboard frame bottom surface 18 at avery slightly greater distance than are keys 28 of key rows 30A-30D.

As seen in FIG. 5, a key upper plane 32 of computer keyboard 12 isdefined by the upper edges 34 of keys 28 of key rows 30A-30D. Key upperplane 32 is spaced from keyboard frame planar bottom surface 18 atdistal keyboard frame edge 22 at a first distance that is greater thanthe second distance from key upper plane 32 to keyboard frame planarbottom surface 18 at proximal keyboard frame edge 20. Keyboard frameplanar bottom surface 18 and key upper plane 32 define therebetween anangle typically of approximately 8° that would be imaginatively formedat a pair of intersecting planes located more operator proximal thanoperator proximal keyboard frame edge 20. The angle of 8° is the mostcommon alignment angle of keyboards so as to create an advantageous keywork surface for the keyboard operator.

Ergonomic keyboard support device 10 includes a keyboard support 38 madeof wood or other suitable material having an operator-proximal keyboardsupport edge 40 and a parallel operator-distal support edge 42 joined toparallel keyboard support operator-left and operator-right side edges 44and 46, respectively, and further having a planar keyboard supportbottom surface 48 and a planar keyboard support top surface 50 that isparallel to planar keyboard bottom surface 48. Keyboard frame bottomsurface 18 rests upon keyboard support top surface 50.

Ergonomic keyboard support device 10 further includes a rest bar, orpause bar, or cowel, 52 made of plastic or other suitable material formaintaining wrist and/or forearm support during and between keyboardoperations. Cowel 52 includes a cowel top wall 54 having a cowel planartop surface 56, a cowel upright front wall 58 that overhangs and coversoperator-proximal keyboard support edge 40, and opposed upright cowelside walls 60 that overhang and cover keyboard support side edges 44 and46. Cowel planar top surface 56 is in the same plane as key upper plane32.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, cowel top wall 54A is slightly higher thancowel planar top surface 56, that is, cowel planar top surface 56A is ina plane parallel to and slightly spaced above key upper plane 32.

Cowel 52 is rotatably connected to keyboard support 38 acrossoperator-proximal keyboard support edge 40 by opposed pivot pins 62 thatextend into keyboard support side edges 44 and 46 near operator-proximalkeyboard support edge 40.

Cowel top wall 54 includes a cowel forward top edge 64 that extendslaterally to and spaced from operator-proximal keyboard support edge 40between keyboard support side edges 44 and 46 and further extends overand beyond operator-proximal keyboard frame edge 20 of computer keyboard12 when keyboard frame edge 20 can be slid under cowel top wall 54 sothat a space is defined between cowel top wall 54 and keyboard 12. Theposition illustrated throughout of operator-proximal keyboard frame edge20 being slid under cowel top wall 54 is an optional position selectedby the keyboard operator. Likewise, computer keyboard 12 can beoptionally positioned operator-left from the position shown in thefigures.

Cowel planar top surface 56 in particular is used by the keyboardoperator to rest the wrist and/or forearm during pauses in keyboardoperations. A curved surface 66 is defined between cowel top wall 54 andcowel front wall 58.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, a platform 68 made of plastic orother suitable material removably positioned upon keyboard support topsurface 50 has a platform top wall cover 70 having a planar top surface72 aligned in the same plane as cowel planar top surface 56 andsubstantially in the same plane as key upper plane 32. A computer mouse73 is shown positioned in a random position on platform planar topsurface. Platform 68 includes a platform bottom wall 74 having aplatform planar bottom surface 75 in removable contact with keyboardsupport planar top surface 50. Platform 68 includes platform parallelupright operator-proximal and operator-distal walls 76 and 78,respectively, with platform operator-proximal wall 76 being in contactwith cowel forward top edge 64 and platform operator-distal wall 78being in alignment with operator-distal keyboard support edge 42.

Platform 68 also includes platform parallel upright inner and outer sidewalls 80 and 82, respectively, with inner side wall 80 being parallel toand distanced from keyboard support side edge 44 and with outer sidewall 80 being aligned with keyboard support side edge 44. In FIGS. 1, 2,and 7, keyboard 12 is shown in an optional location adjacent to platforminner side wall 82, but keyboard 12 may be located in any open positionon keyboard support top surface 50.

Cover 70 is removably mounted upon platform operator-proximal andoperator-distal walls 76 and 78 and platform inner and outer side walls80 and 82. As seen in FIG. 7, a pair of short downwardly extendingflanges 84 connected to the inner and outer sides of cover 70 arepositioned upon a pair of L-shaped supports 86 extending inwardly frominner and outer side walls 80 and 82 so that cover 70 is firmly andremovably seated upon inner and outer side walls 80 and 82. Coverproximal and distal edges 92 and 94, respectively, rest upon the tops ofplatform operator-proximal and operator-distal walls 78 and 80. A curvedstop member 86 unitary with cover 70 extends across platform top surface72 at above platform operator distal wall 80.

Platform 68 defines a storage space, 96, seen best in FIG. 4A, made ofplastic or other suitable material which in particular is defined bycover 70, platform operator-proximal and -distal walls 76 and 78,platform inner and outer side walls 82 and 84, and platform bottom wall74.

Ergonomic keyboard support device 10 also includes a storage tray, orcompartment, 98 positioned under cowel 52 upon said keyboard support topsurface extending across said operator-proximal keyboard support edge.Compartment 98 has an top aperture and is overall defined by a bottomwall 100 that is suitably secured to keyboard support support stopsurface 50 between keyboard support side edges 44 and 46 and alongoperator-proximate keyboard support edge 40; an upright wall 102extending between keyboard support side edges 44 and 46 and alignedlaterally along operator-proximate keyboard support edge 40; a wall 104lateral to and spaced inwardly from wall 102; and a pair of uprightopposed end walls 106 and 108 that are joined to walls 102 and 104.Compartment 98 is separated into three sub-compartments 109A, 109B, and109C by a pair of upright cross-walls 110 and 112 that are connected tocompartment bottom wall 100 and compartment walls 102 and 104.

When cowel top wall 54 is rotated from the closed position illustratedin FIG. 5 to an open position 54X as indicated in phantom line, the topside of compartment 98 is opened and compartment 98 is accessible to theoperator.

FIG. 5A is analogous to FIG. 5 with, however, a larger compartment 98Athan compartment 98 with a cowel 52A having a cowel top wall 54A spacedslightly above key upper plane 32 and inner and outer walls 102A and102A being slightly more distant from platform support bottom surface 48than inner and outer transverse walls 102 and 104 of FIG. 5. Compartment98 also has end walls that are likewise higher than end walls 106 and108. The result is that compartment 98A is slightly larger thancompartment 98. For the purposes of the present invention and thisapplication, cowel planar top surface 56A and key upper plane 32 aresubstantially in the same plane in FIG. 5A is equivalent to therelationship shown in FIG. 5A between cowel planar top surface 56 andkey upper plane 32 in FIG. 5. In accordance with the present invention,cowel planar top surface 56, shown in FIG. 5, for example, can in factbe slightly higher than key upper plane 32 and still be substantially inthe same plane with key upper plane 32, that is, cowel planar topsurface 56A of FIG. 5 is still substantially in the same plane as keyupper plane 32.

Ergonomic keyboard support device 10 in accordance with the presentinvention includes key upper plane 32, cowel planar top surface 56, andplatform planar top surface 72 all being in the same plane or insubstantially in the same plane. FIGS. 1-7 illustrate key upper plane32, cowel planar top surface 56, and platform planar top surface 72being in a single horizontal plane, or being substantially in a singlehorizontal plane.

FIG. 8 illustrates ergonomic keyboard support device 10 operativelymounted with an articulated linkage 114 of a type known in the art thatincludes a linear linkage arm 116 that is secured at one end to a pivotmount 118 to the underside of a monitor platform 120. The other end oflinkage arm 116 is secured to a pivot mount 122 that is secured to asupport structure, or carriage plate, 124, which has a carriage plateplanar top surface 126. Ergonomic keyboard support device 10 isillustrated in a first operator selected position 128 shown in solidline, with computer keyboard 12 shown in phantom line, first position128 being in the horizontal mode.

FIGS. 2-7 illustrate ergonomic keyboard support device 10 with analigning wedge 130 made of wood or other suitable material for aligningkeyboard support 38 so that key upper plane 32, cowel planar top surface56, platform planar top surface, and in addition, planar top surface 126of carriage plate 124 are all in horizontal alignments. Wedge 130 has atriangular configuration as seen in side view with a thick edge 132tapering to a thin edge 13 and having upwardly facing and downwardlyfacing second planar surfaces 136 and 138, respectively. Thick edge 132is has an operator-proximal orientation and thin edge 134 has anoperator-distal position. Upwardly facing planar surface 136 is securedin a suitable manner with planar keyboard support bottom surface 48,that is, keyboard support 38 is situated upon wedge 130. Wedge 130 inturn is situated upon carriage plate 124, in particular, downwardlyfacing planar surface 138 lies upon and is secured in a suitable mannerto the upwardly facing planar surface of carriage plate 124. Wedge 130has opposed parallel triangular-shaped vertical walls 140. Wedge 130 ispositioned at the mid-area of keyboard support 38 between keyboardsupport side edges 44 and 46 with thin edge 134 proximate and lateral tooperator distal keyboard support edge 42.

The angle formed by the upwardly and downwardly facing planar surfaces136 and 138 of wedge 130 define an angle that is equal to, but opposedto, the angle previously described relating to keyboard frame planarbottom surface 18 and key upper plane 32, which define therebetween anangle typically of approximately 8° that would be imaginatively formedat a pair of intersecting planes located more operator proximal thanoperator proximal keyboard frame edge 20.

The opposed angle defined by wedge 130 overcomes the angle at which anormally designed key upper plane would have when a keyboard framebottom surface was placed upon a horizontal surface. The mentioned 8°work angle at which most key upper planes are aligned can vary amongmanufacturers, but this variance can be accommodated by slightvariations in the design of the present invention and such variations,therefore, do not affect the inventive aspects of the present invention.

Key upper plane 32 of computer keyboard 12 is spaced at a greaterdistance from the planar keyboard frame bottom surface 18 atoperator-distal keyboard edge 22 than at operator-proximal keyboard edge20, wherein key upper plane 32 and planar keyboard frame bottom surface18 define therebetween a first angle. Planar top surface 126 of carriageplate 124 is aligned in a substantially horizontal plane. Planarkeyboard support bottom surface 48 is substantially planar to planarkeyboard top surface 50. Wedge 130 aligns keyboard support 38 whereinplanar keyboard support top surface 50 is in plane defining a secondangle relative to a horizontal plane wherein the first and second anglesare equal, so that the substantially planar key upper plane 32 computerkeyboard 12 lies in a substantially horizontal plane. Platform 68 meansincludes a substantially Planar platform bottom surface 75 define athird angle relative to a horizontal plane, the third angle being equalto the first and second angles. Planar platform bottom surface 75extends downwardly from said platform operator proximal wall 76 toplatform operator-distal wall 78 relative to the horizontal at thirdangle.

FIG. 8 illustrates orientations of ergonomic keyboard support device 10when articulated linkage 114 is adjusted at pivot mount 122, whichallows angular adjustment so that planar top surface 126 of carriageplate 124 can be rotated typically between a number of positive +15° anda negative--23° tilted operational planes relative to the horizontalplane. A second operator selected position 142 wherein ergonomickeyboard support device in phantom line is positioned at a positive 15°angle is shown in FIG. 8. A third operator selected position 144 whereinergonomic keyboard support device in phantom line is positioned at anegative 23° angle is also shown in FIG. 8.

Articulated linkage 114 can also be adjusted at pivot mount 124, whichallows a vertical adjustment so that ergonomic keyboard support device10 can be lowered from the basic first operator selected position 128 toa fourth operator selected position 145 wherein ergonomic keyboardsupport device 10 shown in phantom line in FIG. 8, wherein planar topsurface 126 of carriage plate 124 although moved to a new lower planeremains in a horizontal orientation as in first operator selectedposition 128.

Articulate linkage 114 is also adjustable so that ergonomic keyboardsupport device 10 can be horizontally moved from the fourth operatorselected position 145 along rail support 146 to a fifth operatorselected position 148 shown in phantom line, which is a storage positiondirectly under monitor platform 120 in which position planar top surfaceof carriage plate 124 remains in a horizontal orientation as in thirdoperator selected position 144.

FIG. 9 illustrated ergonomic keyboard support device 10 in swivelpositions that are associated with articulated linkage 114 whereinergonomic keyboard support device 10 is shown in solid line in a firstoperating mode directly facing monitor table 120. Linkage arm 116 ismounted to the underside of keyboard support 38 at swivel connection 150and is also mounted to the underside of monitor platform 120 at swivelconnection 152. Keyboard support 38 is shown in phantom line having beenswiveled at swivel connection 152 to a first swivel position 154 whereinkeyboard support 38 is moved laterally to monitor table 120. Also,keyboard support 38 is shown in phantom line having been swiveled atswivel connection 150 to a second swivel position 156 wherein keyboardsupport 38 is rotated to a selected angle relative to monitor table 120.

A non-skid material such as ribbed rubber 158 is applied with adhesivekeyboard support top surface 50. Non-skid material such as ribbed rubber160 is applied with adhesive to platform planar bottom surface 76. Also,a non-skid material such as ribbed rubber 158 is applied with adhesiveto keyboard frame bottom surface 18. Such non-skid materials 158, 160,and 162 prevent movement of keyboard 12 and platform 68 relative tokeyboard support top surface 50.

Platform 68 is illustrated operator-right and keyboard 12 is illustratedoperator-left in the figures, which is the position that is used byright-handed operators. Left handed operators, however, would moveplatform 68 to an operator-left in the figures and keyboard 12 would bemoved to an operator-right position in a mirror image of the positionshown in the figures.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding,it will, of course, be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made in the form, details, and arrangements of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the followingclaims. For example, computer keyboards can vary in design details. Thepresent invention can apply to these design variations with thenecessary changes being made within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ergonomic keyboard support device for acomputer keyboard having a substantially planar key upper plane,comprising,a keyboard support having an operator-proximal keyboardsupport edge and a substantially planar keyboard support top surface,bar means for maintaining wrist and forearm support during keyboardoperations, said bar means being connected to said keyboard support topsurface across said operator-proximal keyboard support edge and having asubstantially planar bar top surface, and platform means for holding acomputer mouse and for writing by a keyboard operator and formaintaining wrist support during mouse operations, said platform meansbeing movably positioned upon said planar keyboard support top surface,said platform means having a substantially planar platform top surfacesubstantially in the same plane as said planar bar top surface.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the substantially planar key upperplane of the computer keyboard is substantially parallel to saidsubstantially planar bar top surface and to said substantially planarplatform top surface.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein saidplanar key upper plane is substantially in the same plane as said planarbar top surface and to said planar platform top surface.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said keyboard support further has anoperator-distal keyboard support edge parallel to said keyboard supportoperator-proximal edge and said platform means includes parallelplatform upright operator-proximal and operator distal walls inalignment with said bar means and with said operator-distal keyboardsupport edge, respectively.
 5. The device according to claim 4, furtherincluding compartment means for holding office supplies positioned undersaid bar means and secured to said planar keyboard support top surfaceand extending laterally along said operator-proximal keyboard supportedge.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said compartmentdefines a top aperture, and further including a cover wall over said topaperture, said cover wall being integral with said bar means, said barmeans being pivotably attached to said keyboard support for rotationalmovement of said cover wall between open and closed positions relativeto said top aperture.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidplatform means further includes a pair of substantially parallel uprightside walls joined to said platform operator-proximal and saidoperator-distal walls, a substantially planar platform bottom wallremovably positioned upon said planar keyboard support top surface, anda platform top wall cover including said planar platform top surface,said platform top wall cover, said platform bottom wall, said platformoperator-proximal and said platform operator-distal walls, and saidplatform side walls defining a space, said platform top wall cover beingremovably positioned upon said platform side walls and said platformfront and side walls and covering said space.
 8. The device according toclaim 4, wherein said computer keyboard further includes a substantiallyplanar keyboard bottom surface and parallel operator-proximate andoperator-distal keyboard edges, the key upper plane of the computerkeyboard being spaced at a greater distance from the planar keyboardbottom surface at the operator-distal keyboard edge than at theoperator-proximal keyboard edge, wherein the key upper plane and theplanar keyboard bottom surface define therebetween a first angle; andfurther including a support structure having a substantially planarsupport structure top surface aligned in a substantially horizontalplane; said keyboard support having a substantially planar keyboardsupport bottom surface substantially planar to said planar keyboardsupport top surface; and further including means for aligning saidkeyboard support wherein said planar keyboard support top surface is inplane defining a second angle relative to a horizontal plane, said firstand second angles being equal, wherein said substantially planar keyupper plane of said computer keyboard is a substantially horizontalplane, said means for aligning being connected to said planar keyboardsupport bottom surface and being positioned on said planar supportstructure top surface, whereby said planar platform top surface, saidplanar bar means top surface and said key upper plane of said computerkeyboard are aligned substantially horizontal.
 9. The device accordingto claim 8, wherein said platform means includes a substantially planarplatform bottom surface defining a third angle relative to a horizontalplane, said third angle being equal to said first and second angles,said planar platform bottom surface extending downwardly from saidplatform operator-proximal wall to said platform operator-distal wallrelative to the horizontal at said third angle.
 10. The device accordingto claim 8, wherein said means for aligning is a wedge connected to saidkeyboard support bottom surface, said wedge including a thick edge and athin edge and upward facing and downward facing taper faces, said upwardtapering face being connected to said planar keyboard support bottomsurface, said thin edge being positioned relative to said to saidoperator-distal keyboard support edge and said thick edge beingpositioned relative to said operator-proximal support edge, said wedgebeing positioned on said planar support structure top surface.
 11. Thedevice according to claim 8, further including monitor support means forholding a computer monitor in operational relationship with the computerkeyboard, and further including articulated linkage means for adjustmentof said keyboard support between a plurality of positive and negativetilted operational planes relative to the horizontal plane, saidarticulated linkage means being connected to said monitor support meansand to said keyboard support.
 12. The device according to claim 8,wherein said articulated linkage means further includes means forswiveling said keyboard support between a plurality of angled positionsrelative to said monitor support.
 13. The device according to claim 8,wherein said articulated linkage means further includes means forvertically adjusting said keyboard support between a plurality of fullyraised and fully lowered positions.
 14. The device according to claim13, wherein said articulated linkage means further includes means forhorizontally adjusting said keyboard support between said fully loweredposition and a position located underneath said monitor support means.15. The device according to claim 2, further including non-skid meansfor preventing movement of said keyboard and said platform meansrelative to said keyboard support top surface.